S
SignalEDI
DOCS
← Back to HomeSign In

SignalEDI Documentation

Everything you need to integrate, configure, and get value from SignalEDI. For a copy-paste first upload, start with the Developer QuickStart. Use the navigation on the left to jump to any section.

Product principle — mechanized self-serve: SignalEDI is an AI-first company: product, support, onboarding, reliability, and growth are designed so AI and intelligent automation perform as much work for the SMB customer as possible—safely, auditably, and supportively—with humans focused on exceptions, governance, and judgment calls. Onboarding, support, integrations, compliance, billing, and growth must be mechanized. If the product depends on humans for default paths, SignalEDI becomes another legacy vendor. If it depends on automation, it scales like software. Every feature and process change should ask: does this maximize supportive automation and AI-assist for the SMB, and reduce human dependency on the default path?
Zero-friction onboarding checklist: complete account setup, run a sandbox transaction, and validate partner connectivity before go-live. This sequence removes the most common onboarding blockers.

1. Getting Started

Account Setup

Creating a SignalEDI account takes under two minutes. No demo call required, no sales process — just sign up and start.

  1. Navigate to signaledi.com/register and enter your work email and a strong password.
  2. Check your inbox for a verification email from no-reply@signaledi.com and click the confirmation link.
  3. Choose a subscription plan (Starter · Professional · Enterprise) and complete checkout via Stripe. No setup fees.
  4. You will land on the onboarding wizard — add your company name, ISA Sender ID, and first trading partner.
Tip: If you are in healthcare, choose the Professional plan to access all 837/835/270/271/278 transaction sets from day one.

First Login

After verification, log in at signaledi.com/login. If you enabled MFA during setup you will be prompted for your TOTP code after entering your password.

Accounts with status PENDING_PAYMENT or PENDING_VERIFICATION are redirected to the /access page until activation is complete.

Dashboard Overview

The dashboard is your real-time command center. Key areas:

SectionWhat it shows
Transaction MonitorLive feed of every inbound/outbound EDI transaction with status badges
File ManagerAll uploaded EDI files, validation results, and download links
Trading PartnersAll configured partners, their ISA IDs, and connection status
BillingCurrent plan, usage, add-ons, and Stripe customer portal link
Add-onsAvailable and active add-on modules
SettingsAccount details, API keys, MFA, and notification preferences

2. EDI Basics

What is EDI?

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the computer-to-computer exchange of business documents in a standard electronic format. Instead of emailing a PDF purchase order or faxing an invoice, EDI encodes those documents in a structured text format that both sender and receiver systems can parse automatically.

EDI eliminates manual data entry, reduces errors, and is required by most large retailers (Walmart, Target, Amazon), healthcare payers (Medicare, Blue Cross), and 3PLs. If a trading partner tells you "we only accept EDI," SignalEDI is what you use to become EDI-capable.

X12 Format

ANSI X12 is the dominant EDI standard in North America. An X12 document is a flat text file with segments separated by a tilde (~) and elements within each segment separated by an asterisk (*).

ISA*00*          *00*          *ZZ*SENDERID       *ZZ*RECEIVERID     *260101*1200*U*00401*000000001*0*P*>~
GS*PO*SENDERID*RECEIVERID*20260101*1200*1*X*004010~
ST*850*0001~
BEG*00*SA*PO-2024-001**20260101~
REF*DP*DEPT-47~
N1*ST*WALMART STORE #4872*91*0001234567~
PO1*1*100*EA*24.99**BP*ITEM-001*VN*VENDOR-SKU-A~
CTT*1~
SE*8*0001~
GE*1*1~
IEA*1*000000001~

Each line is a segment. The first element (before the first *) is the segment identifier (e.g. ISA, BEG, PO1). The number after the segment ID is the element position within that segment.

Common Transaction Sets

CodeNameUsed ByDirection
850Purchase OrderRetailInbound from buyer
855PO AcknowledgmentRetailOutbound to buyer
856Advance Ship NoticeRetailOutbound to buyer
810InvoiceRetail & HealthcareOutbound
837P/I/DMedical ClaimsHealthcareOutbound to payer
835Remittance AdviceHealthcareInbound from payer
270Eligibility InquiryHealthcareOutbound to payer
271Eligibility ResponseHealthcareInbound from payer
278Prior AuthorizationHealthcareBidirectional
997Functional AcknowledgmentAllBidirectional
214Shipment StatusLogisticsInbound
844Chargeback / Debit MemoRetailInbound

ISA / GS Segments Explained

Every X12 interchange starts with an ISA (Interchange Control Header) segment and ends with IEA. Within each interchange, one or more GS functional groups wrap the actual transaction sets.

ElementPositionDescriptionExample
ISA066Interchange Sender ID (your company)SENDERID
ISA088Interchange Receiver ID (partner)RECEIVERID
ISA1313Interchange Control Number (unique)000000001
ISA1616Sub-element separator>
GS022Application Sender CodeSENDERID
GS033Application Receiver CodeRECEIVERID
GS066Group Control Number1
ST011Transaction Set Identifier Code850

3. Processing Files

How to Upload EDI Files

Navigate to Files → Upload in the dashboard. You can:

  • Drag and drop one or more EDI files onto the drop zone.
  • Click the drop zone to open a file browser.
  • Use the POST /api/files/upload endpoint for programmatic uploads.

Maximum file size: 50 MB per file. Maximum batch: 25 files at once.

Validation & Processing

After upload, SignalEDI runs a multi-step pipeline:

  1. Syntax check — verifies ISA/GS envelope structure, segment terminators, and element delimiters.
  2. Transaction set validation — checks mandatory segments, element formats, and code values against the X12 specification for the identified transaction set.
  3. Partner matching — matches the ISA06/ISA08 IDs to a configured trading partner in your account.
  4. Output routing — delivers the processed data per the output mode configured for that partner (EDI passthrough or JSON API).
  5. 997 acknowledgment — automatically generates a 997 FA back to the sender if configured.
Note: Validation errors produce a FAILED transaction status. Click any failed transaction to see the specific segment and element that caused the rejection.

Supported Formats

FormatExtensionsNotes
ANSI X12.edi, .x12, .txt, .datAll versions 3010–8010. Auto-detected.
EDIFACT.edi, .txtLimited support — contact support for EDIFACT partners.
Flat File (CSV/TSV).csv, .tsv, .txtRequires a custom map — contact support.

Output Modes (EDI vs API)

Per trading partner, you choose how processed data is delivered:

ModeDescriptionBest for
EDIProcessed X12 EDI forwarded to SFTP/AS2 endpoint or available for download.Partners that require raw EDI output, legacy system integration.
API / JSONEDI converted to clean JSON and POSTed to your webhook URL or available via REST API.Modern applications, ERP systems, QuickBooks integration.

4. Trading Partners

Adding a Trading Partner

Go to Partners → Add Partner. You will need:

  • Partner name and contact email.
  • Their ISA Sender ID (ISA06) and your ISA Receiver ID (ISA08) for this partner.
  • Connection type (SFTP, AS2, or API webhook).
  • Transaction sets this partner sends/receives.
  • Preferred output mode (EDI or API JSON).

ISA IDs (Interchange Sender/Receiver IDs)

ISA IDs are 15-character alphanumeric identifiers that tell the EDI network who sent a document and who should receive it. Each trading partner relationship uses a unique pair: your sender ID and the partner's receiver ID.

You can find your ISA IDs in Settings → EDI Configuration. If you don't have ISA IDs, SignalEDI will provision them for you during onboarding.

Connection Types

TypeDescriptionPlan Required
SFTPSecure FTP push/pull. SignalEDI polls your SFTP server or pushes to your partner's server.Starter+
AS2HTTP-based EDI transport with MDN receipts. Required by most major retailers (Walmart, Target, Amazon).Professional+
API WebhookSignalEDI POSTs processed JSON to your endpoint on each transaction. The simplest modern option.All plans
VAN (via AS2)Connect to a Value-Added Network through our AS2 gateway.Professional+

Onboarding Timeline

SignalEDI account setup and technical configuration is same-day. However, getting certified with a major trading partner takes longer because their internal processes control the timeline — not SignalEDI.

Important: Onboarding with major retailers (Walmart, Target, Amazon) or large healthcare payers typically takes 6–8 weeks due to their internal intake, testing, and certification requirements. Start the partner onboarding process as early as possible.
PhaseWho controls itTypical duration
SignalEDI account + ISA setupYou + SignalEDISame day
Partner contact & intake formTrading partner1–2 weeks
Test transaction exchangeBoth parties1–2 weeks
Partner certificationTrading partner2–4 weeks
Go liveBoth partiesDay of approval

5. Billing & Plans

Plan Comparison

FeatureStarter ($199/mo)Professional ($499/mo)Enterprise ($999/mo)
Transactions/month1,00010,000Unlimited
Trading partners5UnlimitedUnlimited
File retention14 days90 days365 days
QuickBooks syncOnline onlyOnline + DesktopOnline + Desktop
Connection typesSFTP, APISFTP, AS2, APIAll + custom
Healthcare EDICore setsAll HIPAA setsAll + custom
SupportEmailPriority chat + tickets24/7 + dedicated AM
SLABest effort99.5%99.9% custom SLA

Add-ons

Add-onPriceDescription
Compliance & Audit Pack$79/moReal-time compliance scanning, instant alerts, HIPAA and SOC 2 audit logs, and partner requirement validation.
Advanced Analytics & Reporting$99/moTransaction trends, partner scorecards, error analysis, SLA tracking, and ROI reporting in one dashboard.
Document Archival Vault$49–$149/moExtended retention (2yr, 5yr, 7yr) with IRS-compliant archival. Tier-based pricing. Never lose a transaction record.

Upgrading Your Plan

Go to Dashboard → Billing → Change Plan. Upgrades take effect immediately and are prorated. Downgrades take effect at the end of the current billing cycle.

Billing Portal

Click Manage Billing in the dashboard to open the Stripe Customer Portal, where you can update your payment method, view invoices, and cancel your subscription.

6. API Reference

Authentication

All API requests require a Bearer token. Generate an API key from Settings → API Keys.

GET /api/transactions
Authorization: Bearer sk_live_YOUR_API_KEY
Content-Type: application/json
Security: Never expose your API key in client-side code or public repositories. If a key is compromised, revoke it immediately from the Settings page.

REST Endpoints

MethodEndpointDescription
GET/api/transactionsList all transactions (paginated). Filter by status, partner, direction, date.
GET/api/transactions/:idGet a single transaction with full EDI payload.
GET/api/filesList uploaded EDI files.
POST/api/files/uploadUpload an EDI file. Multipart/form-data with field 'file'.
GET/api/partnersList all trading partners.
POST/api/partnersCreate a new trading partner.
PATCH/api/partners/:idUpdate partner configuration.
DELETE/api/partners/:idRemove a trading partner.
GET/api/user/usageCurrent billing period transaction usage.

Example: list recent failed transactions:

curl -X GET "https://signaledi.com/api/transactions?status=FAILED&limit=50" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_YOUR_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json"

Code Samples

Complete request examples in multiple languages. Click the tabs to switch between cURL, Node.js, Python, and PHP.

Authentication
Include your API key as a Bearer token in the Authorization header.
curl -X GET "https://signaledi.com/api/transactions" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json"
Upload EDI File
Upload an EDI file for processing via multipart form-data.
curl -X POST "https://signaledi.com/api/files/upload" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -F "file=@invoice-850.edi"
Get Transaction Status
Retrieve a single transaction by ID.
curl -X GET "https://signaledi.com/api/transactions/txn_abc123" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_YOUR_API_KEY"
Webhook Verification
Verify webhook signatures using HMAC-SHA256.
# SignalEDI signs webhooks with X-SignalEDI-Signature header
# Verify with:
echo -n '$BODY' | openssl dgst -sha256 -hmac "whsec_YOUR_SECRET"

Rate Limits

Endpoint GroupLimitWindow
/api/transactions120 reqper minute
/api/files/upload30 reqper minute
/api/chat (AI assistant)30 reqper minute
/api/auth (login)20 reqper minute per IP
All other /api/ routes60 reqper minute

Rate limit headers are returned on all responses: X-RateLimit-Remaining and X-RateLimit-Reset (Unix timestamp).

Webhook Setup

Configure a webhook URL in Settings → Webhooks to receive real-time notifications when transactions complete or fail.

SignalEDI sends a POST request to your URL with the following JSON payload:

{
  "event": "transaction.completed",
  "timestamp": "2026-01-01T12:00:00Z",
  "data": {
    "id": "txn_abc123",
    "transactionSet": "850",
    "direction": "INBOUND",
    "status": "COMPLETED",
    "tradingPartner": "Walmart",
    "outputMode": "API",
    "payload": { ... }
  }
}

Webhook events: transaction.completed, transaction.failed, file.processed, partner.connected.

Verify webhook authenticity by checking the X-SignalEDI-Signature header (HMAC-SHA256 of the raw body using your webhook secret).

7. FAQ

What is EDI integration?

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the standard format used by businesses and healthcare organizations to exchange documents like purchase orders, invoices, and insurance claims. EDI integration connects your internal systems to trading partners that require EDI X12 format.

Do I need EDI expertise to use SignalEDI?

No. SignalEDI handles all the EDI complexity on your behalf. You send and receive data in standard formats like JSON or CSV, and SignalEDI translates everything to and from EDI X12 automatically.

How long does trading partner onboarding take?

SignalEDI setup is same-day. However, certifying with major trading partners (large retailers, healthcare payers) typically takes 6–8 weeks due to their internal intake, testing, and certification processes. This timeline is controlled by the trading partner, not SignalEDI.

Can SignalEDI sync EDI transactions to QuickBooks?

Yes. The ERP Marketplace add-on provides native connectors for QuickBooks Online, Sage, NetSuite, Xero, and more. 850 POs become bills, 810 invoices post to accounts receivable, and 835 remittance advices match to payments — no manual re-keying.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. SignalEDI offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. No setup fees, no long-term contracts, and you can cancel anytime.

What HIPAA transaction sets does SignalEDI support?

SignalEDI supports all major HIPAA-governed X12 transactions: 837P/I/D (medical claims), 835 (remittance), 270/271 (eligibility inquiry/response), 278 (prior authorization request/response), and 277 (claim status). The Professional plan includes all HIPAA transaction sets.

How is SignalEDI different from a traditional EDI clearinghouse?

Traditional clearinghouses require expensive setup fees ($500–1,500 per partner), long contracts, and EDI expertise. SignalEDI offers transparent all-inclusive pricing, a self-serve dashboard, and a modern API-first interface — so you can get connected in hours, not weeks.

Where is my data stored?

Files and transactions are stored in Neon PostgreSQL (US East) with encrypted storage. Uploaded files are stored in Vercel Blob with AES-256 encryption at rest. All data is encrypted in transit via TLS 1.3.

How do I cancel my subscription?

Go to Dashboard → Billing → Manage Billing. This opens the Stripe Customer Portal where you can cancel your subscription. Your account stays active until the end of the current billing period.

I uploaded an EDI file but it shows FAILED — what do I do?

Click the failed transaction to see the validation error details. Common issues: incorrect ISA/GS IDs (partner not found in your account), missing mandatory segments, or incorrect segment terminators. Fix the file and re-upload. If you need help, email support@signaledi.com with the transaction ID.

Still have questions?

Our support team typically responds within a few hours during business hours.

Contact Support